Page:Three Years in Europe.djvu/153

Rh champagne,—and in every respect it was a gala day in honor of the boys. Every possible encouragement is given to manly games and manly exercises in the schools and colleges of England; the champion cricket player of Eton or Harrow is idolized far more than the best boy at the examination; and the winners of the University Boat race are the national heroes for the year! Why should education be conducted otherwise in our own country,—why should we he ever taught to think of examination honors and scholarships?

There are finer and more gorgeous sights in the world than the Henley Regatta, but I doubt if there is any sight more exquisitely pretty, more charming to the mind and the eye! Ostensibly the people collect to see some races on the Thames at Henley, but the thing has grown into a national institution, and the people come more to enjoy a holiday than to see the races. The river is lined on both sides with "house boats" beautifully decorated with green leaves and flowers, with flags and festoons which charm the eye. Families and parties come in these boats with their luncheons and dinners, and make themselves merry and happy. Smaller parties in holiday attire hire small bouts for the day or by the hour, and row up and down the river which presents a very picturesque scene. Friends meet friends unexpectedly in the midst of this crowd of holiday-makers. On the lovely and sloping banks, tents are pitched under shady trees or in lovely avenues, and for miles together the scene is one of joy and festivity.

It is impossible within the limits of a few pages to